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It’s every parent’s nightmare — going to wake your beloved child and he doesn’t wake up — ever. That’s what happened to the parents of Alex Betzhold of Argyle on Jan. 17. The seventh grader was only 13 years old. His death was caused by concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, or an enlarged wall around his heart’s left pumping chamber, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office — an undiagnosed heart condition that came as a total surprise to his family.

In honor of Alex and to establish the Alex Betzhold Memorial Scholarship Fund to provide a scholarship to a graduating Argyle senior, friends of the family are holding
a Shoot for the Stars charity event tonight at 7 in the Argyle High School gym. Participants will be asked to collectively make 13,035 free throws continuously through 6 p.m. Saturday at four basketball goals. The 13 represents Alex Betzhold’s age at the time of his death; 35 signifies his basketball number; and the four goals represent the number of immediate family members he left behind.

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and KTVT-TV (Channel 11) sports anchor Babe Laufenberg will host a “Beat the Babe” free throw from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and there will be live and silent auctions with sports memorabilia donated by the Dallas Mavericks, Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, PGA Tour golfers and former NFL players, and items autographed by John Travolta, John Grisham, Warren Buffett, Colin Powell, former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush, Chuck Norris and Kirk Douglas.

Admission is $5 and includes a “Shoot for the Stars” wristband and eligibility for drawings and prizes. Call 940-464-2829, visit www.abmsf.net or send an e-mail to jesses23@verizon.net for more information.

Also, in an effort to prevent other children from dying of undiagnosed heart disease, Living for Zachary, the nonprofit organization founded by Karen Schrah, the mother of Zachary Schrah, a 16-year-old who died of undiagnosed heart problems, will offer free heart screenings for ages 12-22 on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Space is limited, so make an appointment asap by calling 1-855-849-8378.

You can read more about Alex, whom friends often referred to as the “gentle giant,” in the Denton Record-Chronicle here. You can read about Zachary Schrah who dreamed of being a doctor, in my story here.

PHOTOS (Top): Alex Betzhold, an honors student and trumpet player who loved playing basketball died at 13 of an undiagnosed heart condition. (Bottom): Karen Schrah by a picture dedicated to her son, Zachary, at The Heart Hospital Baylor, which offers low-cost heart screenings and free CPR training in memory of Zachary, who collapsed and later died of an undiagnosed heart condition while his mother waited in the parking lot for him to finish football practice at Plano East. Zachary loved playing football, and dreamed of becoming a doctor.